President Denise Houghton welcomed forty-one members and eight guests to our meeting on October 19th at Tennants Garden Rooms.
Following lunch our speaker Major Dillikumar Rai MVO RGR presented a video with a history of the Gurkhas and Nepalese people. The Gurkhas as a fighting force are recognised worldwide as brave, loyal, honest and disciplined. Thirteen Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Gurkha Officers.
The recruits undergo grueling selection tests in Nepal to enter the Gurkha Regiments and an Officer serves on average twenty-two years. Only two battalions of Gurkhas remain, one in Brunei and another in South Kent. Their regiments are based all over the UK.
Queen Victoria introduced Gurkha Officers to serve in Royal Palaces and Major Dillikumar Rai personally served to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established after WW2 to provide financial, medical and development aid to Gurkha veterans and their families. Originally set up by Field Marshal Montgomery, King Charles is Patron and Joanna Lumley DBE Vice-Patron.
The vote of thanks was given by Denise Houghton.
Our next meeting is on November 16th when our speaker is Richard Cameron, Playwright. New members are always very welcome, as are guests.